# Blue (Buffalo) dog food ad - corn is evil? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 30, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738 "2013-05-30T18:10:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/61 "2013-05-31T13:22:29Z")
No, I was just wondering if this is a common problem. I see now that she seems more concerned with the wrong kibble than she is with poison or contaminants. I guess that makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/62 "2013-05-31T14:24:46Z")
Just an aside - you folks do realize that pet foods are made by a very limited number of facilities that turn out five, six, two dozen brands, often competing ones? And from the same warehouse stocks of ingredients? The differences between them are often 90% marketing. ---
**Author:** ![Lightlystarched](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Lightlystarched](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightlystarched)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/63 "2013-05-31T17:24:49Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Calories _are_ nutrition, and in fact are the most important thing a living creature gets from its food.. Calories are just a measure of energy. If “calories” are what matter, I could feed my dog sawdust. Lots of calories there. Or gasoline. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/64 "2013-05-31T17:57:32Z")
> [@Lightlystarched](#): > > Calories are just a measure of energy. If “calories” are what matter, I could feed my dog sawdust. Lots of calories there. Or gasoline. Perhaps we should have said “digestible calories”, then. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/65 "2013-05-31T18:05:24Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > Uh, [the ancient South Americans] did more than “grind [corn] up.” look up “Nixtamalization.” processing is processing no matter how long ago it was conceived. Finding a way to make something edible doesn’t mean we were meant to eat it. I don’t generally hang with the notion of whether a creature (man or dog) was “meant to” eat/do/use something. Evolution, for one, is just one big long history of opportunistic adaptation. Our chimplike ancestors couldn’t walk on two legs very well. Does that mean our chimplike ancestors weren’t “meant to” walk on two legs? 'Cause clearly, some of the apes in our past _did_ adapt to walking on two legs. Until the domestication of livestock, humans didn’t use ruminant milk as a source of adult nutrition. Now we do. Some of us have adapted (lactase persistence), and some of us haven’t (lactose intolerance). That’s a far cry from saying we’re not “meant to” drink milk as adults. If we find a way to make something edible, that means we can eat it. Period. Leave the "meant to"s to the theologians and philosophers. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/66 "2013-06-01T00:28:14Z")
True, but Corn is a huge part of the American Fast Food diet, the ONLY diet that Pollan sez is bad for you. I am not saying a piece of cornbread or some sweet corn on the cob is bad for you, but there;s just too damn much highly processed corn in our diets. And, our pet’s diets. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/67 "2013-06-01T00:54:03Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > True, but Corn is a huge part of the American Fast Food diet, the ONLY diet that Pollan sez is bad for you. Other than HFCS from corn and corn tortillas, what common processed and fast food items have corn products in them? ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/68 "2013-06-01T02:36:07Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Other than HFCS from corn and corn tortillas, what common processed and fast food items have corn products in them? Dextrose is usually derived from corn. Cornstarch is used in a surprising number of pre-packaged foodstuffs. “Food starch” is, at least in the U.S., usually cornstarch. And corn syrup (high fructose or otherwise) is used an awful, awful lot. (Not that replacing it with an equal amount of table sugar would likely be any better for you, but still.) ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/69 "2013-06-01T03:20:48Z")
When I got my dog a few months ago I tried to figure out what I should be feeding him. He’d come with a bag of Purina Dog chow. I quickly found out there is plenty of bullshit science out there trying to promote one food or another. I pretty much gave up trying to figure it out. I settled on Costco’s Kirkland grain free. It was rated highly in a few different reviews. The deciding factor was pretty much ‘it’s expensive enough that I won’t feel guilty I’m feeding him garbage’ No idea if it’s actually any good. My dog will eat anything. Kirkland is the same thing as ‘tastes of the wild’ with different branding. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/70 "2013-06-01T06:51:14Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > Dextrose is usually derived from corn. > Cornstarch is used in a surprising number of pre-packaged foodstuffs. > “Food starch” is, at least in the U.S., usually cornstarch. > > And corn syrup (high fructose or otherwise) is used an awful, awful lot. (Not that replacing it with an equal amount of table sugar would likely be any better for you, but still.) And of course your meat is fattened with corn. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/71 "2013-06-01T21:46:56Z")
Many premium cat foods advertise no grains (including corn) as if that were a plus. But doesn’t your cat nibble on grass? I keep wheat grass for my cats and they like to nibble on it. Although obligate carnivores, such roughage is good for cats, as it is good for us. It helps with digestion. Of course the main ingredients should be meat, chicken, or fish products, but grains may be of benefit, despite those brands that advertise no grains. And those products use potatoes. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/72 "2013-06-01T22:58:48Z")
> [@barbitu8](#): > > Many premium cat foods advertise no grains (including corn) as if that were a plus. But doesn’t your cat nibble on grass? I keep wheat grass for my cats and they like to nibble on it. Although obligate carnivores, such roughage is good for cats, as it is good for us. It helps with digestion. Of course the main ingredients should be meat, chicken, or fish products, but grains may be of benefit, despite those brands that advertise no grains. And those products use potatoes. Sure, and thus a little veggies is fine. But often the first three of four ingredients are corn in one form or the other. No harm in some veggies, but other veggies would be better, and no higher than #3. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/73 "2013-06-01T23:09:07Z")
Agree. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/74 "2013-06-02T00:21:53Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And of course your meat is fattened with corn. You’re not seriously proposing that counts as “corn in the food.” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/75 "2013-06-02T03:03:46Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > You’re not seriously proposing that counts as “corn in the food.” I didn’t say that I said “Corn is a huge part of the American Fast Food diet, the ONLY diet that Pollan sez is bad for you”. And if Michael Pollan thinks it counts, it counts. > **[When a Crop Becomes King - Michael Pollan](https://michaelpollan.com/articles-archive/when-a-crop-becomes-king/)** > > Here in southern New England the corn is already waist high and growing so avidly you can almost hear the creak of stalk and leaf as the plants stretch toward the sun. The ears of sweet corn are just starting to show up on local farm stands,... ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/76 "2013-06-02T03:08:38Z")
Well, whatever the argument is, I think that takes it right off a cliff of absurdity. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/77 "2013-06-02T03:31:15Z")
Cats generally eat grass when they need to bring up a hairball. It’s like kitty ipecac. > [@Dogzilla](#): > > I used to feed Science Diet. They fed SD at the vet, so that seemed like good enough for me. Every time I’d go to the pet store to buy it, however, the owner would rant and rave and go on and on about how SD is the worst crap diet you could feed your dog, the vets all get free food and kickbacks (that’s why they feed it) and it’s this big scam. > > I ignored him for years, thinking that eventually, he’d either adjust his little tinfoil hat or give up on converting me to the One True Church of the One True Dog Food™. > > Then both my dogs developed the itchies. (Yes, that was the clinical diagnosis. ;)) Dry, flaky skin, lots of scratching and licking on their feetz, etc. I continued ignoring the pet store owner guy. Then my younger dog developed irritable bowel disease, which meant I’d wake up in the morning and find he’d gone downstairs in the darkness to poop enormous puddles of bloody poo all over the floor. Vet finally suggested a limited ingredient diet. > > So I switched to another brand (and have since landed on Blue Buffalo, even the cat likes the dog food). Within a week, all the Itchies went away. No more dry flaky skin. The IBD dog’s poo started to solidify a bit. So I switched the cat too. His fur got all silky and shiny. The new dog’s fur is silky and shiny. I can see the jury seems to still be out on corn/grain in pet foods, but mine all seem to do better when I either feed BARF (Bones and Raw Foods) or stick with one of the non-grain/low grain brands. Kitty has switched to the Merrick brand and loves it. > > I’m a big fan of Blue Buffalo critter kibbles. Now see my cats absolutely thrive on it. (SD) Their coats all look fantastic, skin is good, weight, etc. In fact we had a cat that after she had been eating it awhile, her fur got so thick and soft, we couldn’t use a brush anymore, because it would just slide right over. Unfortunately, one cat refuses to eat any other cat food than canned. Just will not eat it. And she can only eat a few flavors, or she gets diarrhea. She’s the pickiest little snot when it comes to cat food. (People food, on the other hand, she’ll eat anything she can get her paws on. And she’s very aggressive about it) I listen to what my vet reccomended, and they’re all healthy and happy. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/78 "2013-06-02T03:38:47Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Well, whatever the argument is, I think that takes it right off a cliff of absurdity. Pretty much, he’s the recognized expert in this, so what you call absurdity… ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/79 "2013-06-02T03:50:10Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Corn was a principal part of the diet in ancient South America. Does grinding it up count as processing? The age of death of ancient bodies is judged by the wear on the teeth from eating corn. The wear mostly comes from bits of grindstone mixed with the meal. > [@](#): > > I was just pointing out that carnivores eat vegetable matter. > > I observed tonight that Purina cat food has chicken as the first ingredient, corn as the second. Salmon byproducts are way down the list, but it apparently smells good enough to make it very palatable. When I start a pet food company I will make ours out of what dogs and cats like to eat. There will be plenty of chicken and fish skin, bones, and guts, of course, but also corn cobs, cigarette butts, and Cheetos. And the creme from Twinkies, when the new owners bring them back. A responsible pet owner lets Nature be his guide and observes what his pets eat when they are allowed to choose their dinner. Or you leave the garbage pail out, which is the same thing. Or, as happened to a friend, you leave a pound of marijuana on the dining room table. Then you need to add Cheez Waffies and marshmallows coated with toasted coconut to their diets. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738/80 "2013-06-02T03:55:19Z")
Just because of this thread, we are trying the Blue Buffalo. Went to the Pet Store. Good God, there are a lot of exceptionally expensive brands. Gave the food to the dogs and they were like meh. Had to buy a small tub of Rachel Ray Muttballs (yes, that is correct). Even then, they were less than enthusiastic. Now, stupid Walmart Gaines burger knockoff and Kibbles, that they get enthusiastic about. Dogs are stupid. How DO dog and cat producers determine what a dog/cat food tastes like? How do we know that all cat/dog food doesn’t taste like cardboard to the animals? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-buffalo-dog-food-ad-corn-is-evil/659738.md?page=5)